Where to Watch the World Cup in Italy

I’ve been asked a couple of times by people on Twitter and via email where to watch the World Cup in Italy. The truth is that Italy, a soccer-mad nation, is one of the places where it tends to be pretty easy to find places to watch the games. Some people will be watching from home, to be sure, but Italian TV is so expensive that most people end up going out to bars or cafes to watch football matches. As a visitor, then, it’s easy to join in on the fun.
Watching the World Cup in Italy is distinctly more fun if Italy is playing, and lately that’s been a problem. After going out in the group stage in 2010 and 2014, the Azzurri failed to qualify for the 2018, 2022 and 2026 tournaments (the 2026 World Cup was played in the USA, Canada and Mexico). The next World Cup is in 2030. Even without Italy on the screen, there are still plenty of people tuning in for the big games.
Your best bet for finding places to watch the World Cup in Italy is to seek out bars and cafes in whatever city you’re visiting that have a TV. If it doesn’t appear to be on, you can always ask. The World Cup in Italian is “il Mondiale di calcio” (pronounced eel mohn|dee|YAH|leh dee KAHL|cho), and if you don’t want to attempt any more Italian than that, saying “il Mondiale di calcio” with a question mark at the end of it and pointing at the TV should be enough to get the point across.
If you’re seeking out a spot to watch a game that’s already started, you may be able to find them by walking down streets and listening for cheers or other yelling that sounds sports-related. Italians, as you might imagine, aren’t exactly quiet when they watch soccer.
Aside from just hunting down local bars and cafes with TVs, keep an eye out for big public screens. Cities put them up in their piazzas for major tournaments, especially when Italy is playing, and in 2010 Rome and Florence both went all out.

Where to Watch the World Cup in Rome

In 2010 Rome was one of only seven cities outside South Africa with an official FIFA Fan Fest: a free jumbo-screen zone in Piazza di Siena, near the Villa Borghese, with room for 16,000 people. That Fan Fest was a one-off for the 2010 tournament, so check the city’s event listings to see what’s been set up for the next big match.

Where to Watch the World Cup in Florence

In 2010 Florence put up ten big screens around the city for the World Cup. Personally, so long as the weather’s cooperating, I can’t think of a better big space in Florence to watch a match than the Piazzale Michelangelo, which had one of them - you get the game and the stunning view overlooking Florence as well.
photo by chocokat